Human Rights Imperatives for Biden’s Summit Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (25 September 2021) – When U.S. President Joe Biden announced his Summit for Democracy and identified ‘advancing respect for human rights’ as one of three key themes for discussion it gave some encouragement to human rights advocates and hope to those who are victims of human rights abuses. It signaled a renewal of American support for human rights and a commitment by the Biden Administration to reclaim America’s...
Biden’s Summit to address challenges to Democracy, Corruption, and Human Rights Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (13 August 2021) –– I applaud U.S. President Joseph Biden, Jr. for his proposed virtual “Summit for Democracy”. The Summit, which is set for December 9-10, 2021, will be the first of two summits to be organized and hosted by the American President that “will bring together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to set forth an affirmative agenda...
Challenges we face in an environment of hostility and uncertainty Ambassador Curtis A. Ward [Excerpt from Keynote Address to the Washington Mid-Town Lions Club Annual Charter Ball – New Carrollton Maryland, October 27. 2018] (28 Oct. 2018) — The Lions are famously known and appreciated as a service organization; an organization which brings vision and comfort to those who are challenged to see, and to those who suffer inhumane and depraved conditions. I understand that the...
Venezuela Exposes the Weaknesses of Regional and International Organizations Ambassador Curtis A. Ward I firmly defend collective action by intergovernmental organizations acting responsibly to resolve intractable problems which have proven to be beyond the scope of domestic institutions within the affected state. I do not grade these organizations by their successes or failures, but on whether they have the political will and the moral authority to make a good faith effort to bring about a...
Slavery: A Human Tragedy and Crime against Humanity Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (07 December 2017) — The perpetrators of crimes against humanity – human trafficking and slave trade – taking place in Libya must not go unpunished. Many countries had been aware of these egregious acts for some time and had remained silent. The United Nations community, and thus all UN Member States, was warned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on April 11, 2017 when Leonard Doyle, chief...
Rescinding DACA is Immoral: We are all in this together! Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (08 Sept. 2017) — When President Donald Trump turned back the clock by rescinding DACA it was perhaps the most immoral act of his presidency to date. If it wasn’t for a fact the majority of Americans are in favor of DACA, America, a country that prides itself in leading the world in setting moral standards, would be at the back of the line. In saying this, I acknowledge there are many countries around...
U.S. Sanctions won’t stop Venezuela Bleeding: Will the UN Security Council Act Responsibly? Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (31 Aug. 2017) — The targeted sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuelan individuals and entities will not be sufficient to change Nicolás Maduro’s behavior and return democracy and rule of law to Venezuela. Resort to military force is not an option. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that military action is on the table is bluster. I also believe the...
